US20150211827A1 - Magazine Adapter for a Paintball Gun - Google Patents
Magazine Adapter for a Paintball Gun Download PDFInfo
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- US20150211827A1 US20150211827A1 US14/594,495 US201514594495A US2015211827A1 US 20150211827 A1 US20150211827 A1 US 20150211827A1 US 201514594495 A US201514594495 A US 201514594495A US 2015211827 A1 US2015211827 A1 US 2015211827A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- paintball
- converter
- magazine
- paintball gun
- compatible
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41B—WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F41B11/00—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
- F41B11/50—Magazines for compressed-gas guns; Arrangements for feeding or loading projectiles from magazines
- F41B11/55—Magazines for compressed-gas guns; Arrangements for feeding or loading projectiles from magazines the projectiles being stored in stacked order in a removable box magazine, rack or tubular magazine
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41B—WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F41B11/00—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
- F41B11/50—Magazines for compressed-gas guns; Arrangements for feeding or loading projectiles from magazines
- F41B11/52—Magazines for compressed-gas guns; Arrangements for feeding or loading projectiles from magazines the projectiles being loosely held in a magazine above the gun housing, e.g. in a hopper
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49716—Converting
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- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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Abstract
One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a paintball gun. The paintball gun is configured to be attached to a feed elbow at a first location on the paintball gun. The illustrative system also includes a paintball magazine. The illustrative system further includes a converter. The converter is configured to be attached with the paintball magazine. The converter is also configured to be attached with the paintball gun at the first location. When the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational, the paintball magazine is at least substantially parallel with a barrel of the paintball gun.
Description
- This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/932,229, entitled “Magazine Adapter for Tippmann Paintball Guns,” filed Jan. 27, 2014, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/987,704, entitled “Magazine Adapter for a Paintball Gun,” filed May 2, 2014, the entirety of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
- The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun. Embodiments also relate to devices, systems, and methods for a magazine-fed paintball gun.
- Traditionally, a hopper has been used to feed paintballs into a paintball gun.
- Embodiments provide devices, systems, and methods for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun. Embodiments provide devices, systems, and methods for a magazine-fed paintball gun.
- In embodiments, a system comprises a paintball gun, a paintball magazine, and a converter. In one embodiment, the paintball gun is configured to be attached with a feed elbow at a first location on the paintball gun. In an embodiment, a paintball magazine is configured to hold a plurality of paintballs. The converter can be configured to be attached with the paintball magazine. The converter may be configured to be attached with the paintball gun at the first location. In one embodiment, when the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational, then the paintball magazine is at least substantially parallel with a barrel of the paintball gun.
- In an embodiment, the paintball gun is configured to be attached with a paintball hopper through the feed elbow. In one embodiment, when the paintball gun is attached with the feed elbow at the first location on the paintball gun, the paintball hopper is attached to the paintball gun through the feed elbow, and the paintball gun is operational, then the paintball gun is configured to receive at least one paintball from the hopper through the feed elbow. In an embodiment, when the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational, then the paintball gun is configured to receive at least one paintball from the paintball magazine through the converter.
- In one embodiment, a first overall width of the paintball gun when the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational is less than three inches wider than a second overall width of the paintball gun when the converter is not attached to the paintball gun at the first location. In an embodiment, a first overall height of the paintball gun when the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational is less than two inches taller than a second overall height of the paintball gun when the converter is not attached to the paintball gun at the first location. In one embodiment, the paintball gun comprises a trigger. In embodiments, a first distance between a bottom of the trigger and a top of the paintball magazine when the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational is less than two inches different than a second distance between the bottom of the trigger and a top of the barrel.
- In an embodiment, a first geometric plane corresponding to the barrel does not intersect with a second geometric plane corresponding to the paintball magazine when the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational. In one embodiment, the converter is configured such that the paintball magazine is angled within twenty-five degrees relative to the barrel when the converter is attached with the paintball gun at the first location, the paintball magazine is attached with the converter, and the paintball gun is operational.
- In an embodiment, the converter comprises a receptacle, the receptacle configured to receive at least part of the paintball magazine. In one embodiment, the converter comprises a latch and at least two pins, the latch and the at least two pins configured to attach the converter with the paintball gun.
- In one embodiment, a device comprises a first component and a second component. The first component can be configured for attaching the device with a compatible paintball gun. The second component may be configured for attaching the device with a compatible paintball magazine. In one embodiment, when the compatible paintball gun and the compatible paintball machine are attached with the device and the compatible paintball gun is operational, the compatible paintball machine is at least substantially parallel to a barrel of the compatible paintball gun. In an embodiment, the first component comprises at least one of a bolt or a screw for attaching the device with the compatible paintball gun. In one embodiment, the first component comprises a latch for attaching the device with the compatible paintball gun. In an embodiment, the first component comprises at least one pin for attaching the device with the compatible paintball gun. In one embodiment, the latch is integrated into the first component. In an embodiment, the latch is detachable from the first component.
- In one embodiment, the first component comprises at least one pin for attaching the device with the compatible paintball gun. In an embodiment, the first component and the second component comprise an integrated component. In one embodiment, the first component and the second component are detachable. In an embodiment, the second component comprises a receptacle configured to receive at least part of the compatible paintball magazine. In one embodiment, the receptacle comprises an internal width of less than two inches. In an embodiment, the receptacle comprises an internal height of less than three inches. In one embodiment, the receptacle comprises a plurality of corners. In an embodiment, at least one corner from the plurality of corners comprises an angle less than ninety degrees. In one embodiment, at least one corner form the plurality of corners is rounded. In an embodiment, the receptacle comprises a space between at least one of the plurality of corners and the compatible paintball magazine when the at least part of the compatible paintball magazine is inserted into the receptacle.
- In one embodiment, at least one interior wall of the receptacle comprises a protrusion. In an embodiment, the protrusion is about 0.1 mm thick. In one embodiment, the protrusion comprises at least one of a circle, a square, a sump, or a raised line. In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises a raised line having a width and a length, the length being at least three times that of the width. In one embodiment, a first interior wall of the receptacle comprise a first protrusion and a second interior wall of the receptacle comprises a second protrusion. In an embodiment, the device comprises an overall width of approximately two inches, an overall height of approximately two inches, and an overall depth of approximately three inches.
- In one embodiment, a magazine-fed paintball gun comprises a detachable paintball magazine, a device, a barrel, a piston, and an opening. In an embodiment, the detachable paintball magazine is configured to hold a plurality of paintballs. In an embodiment, the device comprises a receptacle or a chamber, or both. The receptacle can be configured to receive at least part of the detachable paintball magazine. In one embodiment, the opening is located between the barrel and the piston. In an embodiment, at least part of the chamber of the device is configured to be attached with the opening. In an embodiment, when the at least part of the detachable paintball magazine is inserted into the receptacle of the device and the magazine-fed paintball gun is operational, the detachable paintball magazine is at least substantially parallel to the barrel.
- In an embodiment, the device is integrated into the magazine-fed paintball gun. In one embodiment, the device is attachable to and detachable from the magazine-fed paintball gun. In an embodiment, a first overall width of the magazine-fed paintball gun when the at least part of the detachable paintball magazine is inserted into the receptacle of the device and the magazine-fed paintball gun is operational is less than two inches wider than a second overall width of the magazine-fed paintball gun when the detachable paintball magazine is detached from the receptacle of the device. In one embodiment, a first overall height of the magazine-fed paintball gun when the at least part of the detachable paintball magazine is inserted into the receptacle of the device and the magazine-fed paintball gun is operational is less than two inches taller than a second overall height of the magazine-fed paintball gun when the detachable paintball magazine is detached from the receptacle of the device.
- In an embodiment, the magazine-fed paintball gun comprises a trigger. In one embodiment, a first distance between a bottom of the trigger and a top of the detachable paintball magazine when the at least part of the detachable paintball magazine is inserted into the receptacle of the device and the magazine-fed paintball gun is operational is less than two inches different than a second distance between the bottom of the trigger and a top of the barrel. In one embodiment, at least part of the detachable paintball magazine is inserted into the receptacle of the device and the magazine-fed paintball gun is operational, a first geometric plane corresponding to the barrel does not intersect with a second geometric plane corresponding to the detachable paintball magazine. In an embodiment, the detachable paintball magazine is angled within twenty-five degrees relative to the barrel when the at least part of the detachable paintball magazine is inserted into the receptacle of the device and the magazine-fed paintball gun is operational. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein an variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- In one embodiment, a method of converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun comprises detaching a hopper and a feed elbow from an opening of a paintball gun; attaching a converter to the opening of the paintball gun; and inserting at least part of a paintball magazine into a receptacle of the converter. The converter may be configured to receive paintballs from the magazine and deliver the paintballs to the paintball gun via the opening when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun. In some embodiments, the paintball magazine is at least substantially parallel with a barrel of the paintball gun when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun. In one embodiment, the paintball gun is less than three inches wider when the converter is attached to the paintball gun than when the hopper is attached to the paintball gun via the feed elbow. The paintball gun may be shorter when the converter is attached with the paintball gun than when the hopper is attached to the paintball gun.
- In one embodiment, a first distance measured from a bottom of a trigger of the paintball gun to a top of the paintball magazine is less than two inches different than a second distance measured between the bottom of the trigger of the paintball gun to a top of a barrel of the paintball gun when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun. In some embodiments, a first vertical plane corresponding to a barrel of the paintball gun does not intersect with a second vertical plane corresponding to the paintball magazine when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun. In one embodiment, the converter is angled within twenty-five degrees relative to a barrel of the paintball gun when the converter is attached to the paintball gun (e.g., to an opening of the paintball gun).
- In one embodiment, an interior wall of the receptacle of the converter comprises a protrusion configured to hold the paintball magazine in place when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter. In some embodiments, the converter comprises a latch and at least two pins. In this embodiment, attaching the converter to the paintball gun may comprise connecting the latch and the at least two pins with the paintball gun such that a first opening in the paintball gun aligns with a second opening in the converter. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein an variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- In some embodiments, a chamber of a converter is configured to gravity feed at least one of the plurality of paintballs from the compatible paintball magazine to the compatible paintball gun. In other embodiments, the chamber is configured to spring feed at least one of the plurality of paintballs from the compatible paintball magazine to the compatible paintball gun using a spring in the compatible paintball magazine.
- These illustrative embodiments are mentioned not to limit or define the invention, but rather to provide examples to aid understanding thereof. Illustrative embodiments are discussed in the Detailed Description, which provides further description of the invention. Advantages offered by various embodiments of this invention may be further understood by examining this specification.
- The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more examples of embodiments and, together with the description of example embodiments, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the embodiments.
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FIG. 1 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 2 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 3 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 4 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 5 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 6 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 7 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 8 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 9 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 10 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; -
FIG. 11 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and -
FIG. 12 shows a device for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. - Embodiments provide devices, systems, and methods for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun. Embodiments provide devices, systems, and methods for a magazine-fed paintball gun. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of example embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
- In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve specific goals, such as compliance with business-related constraints, design-related constraints, and/or existing products, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another.
- In embodiments, a device is configured for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, a paintball gun may be configured to receive paintballs from a hopper via a feed elbow attached to the paintball gun and the hopper. In this embodiment, the hopper can be attached to and detached from the feed elbow. For example, in one embodiment, the feed elbow may have a bolt that can be tightened to attach the hopper to the feed elbow or loosened to detach the hopper from the feed elbow. In this embodiment, the hopper is detached from the feed elbow by loosening the bolt.
- In embodiments, the feed elbow can be attached to and detached from the paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, the paintball gun may have a front sight that can be depressed such that the feed elbow can be detached from the paintball gun. In this embodiment, the feed elbow is detached from the paintball gun by depressing the front sight. In other embodiments, the paintball gun may have one or more buttons, levers, and/or other release mechanisms that can be depressed, rotated, and/or titled to detach the feed elbow from the paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, the paintball gun comprises a button located near a location where the feed elbow can be attached to the paintball gun. In this example, the feed elbow can be detached from the paintball gun by pressing the button which allows the feed elbow to be detached. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- In embodiments, once the hopper and/or the feed elbow have been removed from the paintball gun, a converter can be attached to the paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, the converter can be attached to the paintball gun in the same or a similar location on the paintball gun that the feed elbow was removed. In embodiments, the converter can be attached to the paintball gun in the same or a similar manner as the feed elbow. For example, in one embodiment, the feed elbow comprises two pins that are used to attach the feed elbow to the paintball gun. In this embodiment, the converter may have two corresponding pins that can be used to attach the converter to the paintball gun. In this embodiment, if the paintball gun comprises a button that can be depressed to allow the feed elbow to be detached from the paintball gun and the feed elbow comprises two pins that are used to hold the feed elbow in place when attached to the paintball gun, then the converter may be configured such that it can be attached to the paintball gun in the same location as the feed elbow can be attached to the paintball gun. In this embodiment, the converter may be attached to the paintball gun in the same manner that the feed elbow can be attached to the paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, the converter has corresponding pins that are the same distance apart as the feed elbow such that the converter can be attached to the paintball gun in the same way that the feed elbow can be attached to the paintball gun. In addition, in this embodiment, the converter may be detached from the paintball gun in the same manner that the feed elbow can be detached from the paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, if a button on the paintball gun can be depressed to detach the feed elbow from the paintball gun, then the button on the paintball gun can be depressed to detach the converter from the paintball gun. In this way, in embodiments, modifications to the paintball gun may be eliminated or minimized in order to adapt the paintball gun from a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- In embodiments, once the converter has been attached to the paintball gun, a paintball magazine can be attached to the converter. For example, in one embodiment, a paintball magazine can be inserted into a receptacle of the converter. In this embodiment, the paintball magazine may be held in place within the receptacle of the converter by friction between the paintball magazine and the converter. In embodiments, one or more interior walls of the receptacle of the converter may be angled such that the paintball magazine fits snugly within the receptacle. In other embodiments, one or more protrusions or otherwise uneven surfaces may extend from one or more interior walls of the receptacle of the converter such that the paintball magazine can be inserted into the receptacle of the converter and removed with a desired amount of force. For example, in one embodiment, the left interior wall of the receptacle of the converter and the right interior wall of the receptacle of the converter each have a raised portion to allow the paintball magazine to be easily inserted into the receptacle and to allow the paintball magazine to fit tightly within the receptacle such that the paintball magazine is not detached from the converter during normal paintball play unless a user of the paintball gun applies an appropriate amount of force to remove the paintball magazine. In other embodiments, the paintball magazine can be attached to and/or detached from the converter in any number of ways including, but not limited to, screws, pins, bolts, latches, friction, etc. In yet other embodiments, the paintball magazine may be attached to the converter before the converter is attached to the paintball gun. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- In embodiments, once the converter has been attached to the paintball gun and the paintball magazine has been attached to the converter, then the paintball gun can be operated as a magazine-fed paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, a user can pull a trigger on the paintball gun to shoot a paintball. In embodiments, a paintball in the paintball magazine can be fed into the paintball gun through the converter. For example, in one embodiment, the paintball magazine holds a plurality of paintballs. In this embodiment, a paintball in the paintball magazine can be fed to the paintball gun through a hollow chamber in the converter. In this embodiment, the hollow chamber of the converter is configured to receive a paintball from the paintball magazine. In embodiments, the paintball can be fed into the paintball gun in any number of ways. For example, in one embodiment, a paintball can be gravity fed into the paintball gun. In this embodiment, part of the chamber of the converter may be angled downward to allow a paintball to roll into the paintball gun. In other embodiments, a spring or other force-feed mechanism can be used to feed paintballs into the paintball gun though a chamber of the converter. In some embodiments, one or more of the paintballs in a paintball magazine can be spring-fed into the paintball gun through the chamber of the converter and one or more of the paintballs in the paintball magazine can be gravity-fed into the paintball gun through the chamber of the converter. For example, in one embodiment, a paintball magazine can hold ten paintballs. In this embodiment, the first eight paintballs may be fed from the paintball magazine through the chamber of the converter into the paintball gun using a spring in the paintball magazine. In this embodiment, the last two paintballs may be gravity-fed from the chamber of the converter into the paintball gun. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- In embodiments, once the converter has been attached to the paintball gun and the paintball magazine has been attached to the converter, the paintball magazine may be substantially parallel with at least part of the paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, the converter is configured to attach to the paintball gun such that when the paintball magazine is inserted into a receptacle of the converter the paintball magazine is parallel with a barrel of the paintball gun. In other embodiments, when the converter is attached to the paintball gun and the paintball magazine is attached to the converter, then the paintball magazine is at an angle relative to a barrel and/or a stock of the paintball gun. For example, in one embodiment, the paintball magazine may be angled five degrees relative to the barrel of the paintball gun. As another example, in one embodiment, the paintball magazine may be angled five degrees relative to the stock of the paintball gun. In other embodiments, the paintball magazine may be angled zero, five, ten, twenty-five, thirty, or forty-five degrees or any other desired angle relative to the barrel and/or stock of the paintball gun. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- This illustrative example is given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed herein. The invention is not limited to this example. The following sections describe various additional non-limiting embodiments and examples of devices, systems, and methods converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun. The following sections also describe various non-limiting embodiments and examples of devices, systems, and methods of a magazine-fed paintball gun.
- Referring now to
FIGS. 1-12 , these figures show aspects of illustrative devices for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun in accordance with various embodiments. In embodiments, aconverter 100 configured for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun can be attached to apaintball gun 104. For example, in one embodiment, the exterior of theconverter 106 can be shaped such that part of theconverter 100 fits against and attaches with thepaintball gun 104. In embodiments, theconverter 100 configured for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun comprises areceptacle 108 configured to receive apaintball magazine 102. For example, in one embodiment, thereceptacle 108 is configured such that apaintball magazine 102 can fit at least partially within thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100. In this embodiment, the fit between thepaintball magazine 102 and one or more walls of thereceptacle 108 is tight such that thepaintball magazine 102 can be held in place within thereceptacle 108 without any screws, bolts, etc. In this embodiment, thepaintball magazine 102 may be held in place while being used with thepaintball gun 104 but can easily be replaced by a user, such as to replace anempty paintball magazine 102 with anotherfull paintball magazine 102. In embodiments, once a hopper and/or a feed elbow has been removed from apaintball gun 104 and replaced with aconverter 100 by attaching theconverter 100 to thepaintball gun 104 and once apaintball magazine 102 has been attached to theconverter 100, thepaintball gun 104 may be used as a magazine-fed paintball gun instead of a hopper-fed paintball gun. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, the overall dimensions of a
converter 100 can vary based on any number of business and/or design constraints including, but not limited to, the paintball gun(s) 104 that theconverter 100 is compatible with and/or the paintball magazine(s) 102 that theconverter 100 is compatible with. In one embodiment, the overall dimensions of theconverter 100 is approximately 2″ wide by 2⅞″ deep without pins and/or 3 3/16″ deep with pins by 1 15/16″ tall. In other embodiments, the overall dimensions of the width, depth, and/or height can be greater and/or lesser than these dimensions. For example, in one embodiment, the overall dimensions of theconverter 100 is approximately 2.5″ wide by 6″ deep by 2.5″ tall. In yet other embodiments the overall dimensions may be between ½″ and 4″ wide, between 1¼″ and 12″ deep, and between ¾″ and 4″ tall. In some embodiments, the overall dimensions of theconverter 100 can be any suitable dimensions as long as theconverter 100 can be operably attached with apaintball gun 104 and apaintball magazine 102. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, a
converter 100 for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun can be made of any number of suitable materials. In one embodiment, theconverter 100 is made entirely of plastic. In other embodiments, theconverter 100 can be made at least partially of plastic. In yet other embodiments, theconverter 100 can be made of one or more plastics, steel, aluminum, composite materials, carbon fiber, rubber, other suitable materials, and/or a combination thereof. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, a
converter 100 for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun can be a single integrated unit. For example, in one embodiment, theconverter 100 is a single integrated unit that can be attached to apaintball gun 104 and defines areceptacle 108 for receiving apaintball magazine 102. In this embodiment, theconverter 100 does not have any moving parts. In other embodiments, theconverter 100 may have one or more moving parts. For example, theconverter 100 can have a spring mechanism configured to feed paintballs received from apaintball magazine 102 through achamber 110 of theconverter 100 and into apaintball gun 104. In yet other embodiments, theconverter 100 can have one or more detachable parts. For example, in one embodiment, theconverter 100 has alatch 146 and/or one or more pins for attaching theconverter 100 to apaintball gun 104. In this embodiment, thelatch 146 and/or the one or more pins can be detachable from theconverter 100. For example, in one embodiment, if theconverter 100 comprises adetachable latch 146, then thedetachable latch 146 may be attached to theconverter 100 using one or more bolts, screws, etc. As another example, in one embodiment, if theconverter 100 comprises a detachable pin, then the detachable pin may be attached to theconverter 100 by inserting the pin into ahole 112 in theconverter 100 configured to receive the pin. In this embodiment, the pin may be held in place by friction and/or by pressing against another component in apaintball gun 104 when theconverter 100 is attached to thepaintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - Referring back to
FIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, theconverter 100 is configured to attach with one ormore paintball magazines 102. For example, in one embodiment, theconverter 100 is configured to attach with aparticular paintball magazine 102. In other embodiments, theconverter 100 is configured to attached with a plurality of different paintball magazines. As shown inFIGS. 1-12 , theconverter 100 can comprise areceptacle 108. Thereceptacle 108 can be configured to receive apaintball magazine 102. In embodiments, thereceptacle 108 is sized such that at least part of apaintball magazine 102 can be inserted into thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100. For example, the interior dimensions of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 106 may be sized such that it is slightly larger than the exterior dimensions of a magazine so that thepaintball magazine 102 can fit at least partially within thereceptacle 108. In this embodiment, thepaintball magazine 102 may be held in place within thereceptacle 108 via friction. For example, in one embodiment, the size of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 is configured such that apaintball magazine 102 can be inserted into thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 using an appropriate amount of force but thepaintball magazine 102 will not fall out of thereceptacle 108 unless physically removed from thereceptacle 108. In other embodiments, aconverter 100 can be configured to be attached with apaintball magazine 102 in any number of ways, including but not limited to, using bolts, screws, friction, mating connectors, etc. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In some embodiments, one or more interior walls of the receptacle can be configured with one or
more protrusions more protrusions receptacle 108 can be designed to firmly hold apaintball magazine 102 in place but still allow a user to remove thepaintball magazine 102 from thereceptacle 108 when needed, such as to replace thepaintball magazine 102 with anotherpaintball magazine 102 when it is empty. In one embodiment, a firstinterior side wall 118 of the receptacle comprises afirst protrusion 120 and a secondinterior side wall 122 opposite the firstinterior side wall 118 of thereceptacle 108 comprises asecond protrusion 124. In this embodiment, thefirst protrusion 120 and/or thesecond protrusion 124 may be approximately 0.2 mm in height. Moreover, in this embodiment, if thefirst protrusion 120 is on the left interior side wall of thereceptacle 108 and thesecond protrusion 124 is on the right interior side wall of thereceptacle 108 and the first andsecond protrusions receptacle 108 may be approximately 0.39-0.4 mm wider than the width of apaintball magazine 102 that theconverter 100 is configured to receive. In this way, in this embodiment, thepaintball magazine 102 can fit within thereceptacle 108 of the converter and is held in place by thefirst protrusion 120 and/or thesecond protrusion 124. In one embodiment, aprotrusion protrusion receptacle 108 can be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, or any other suitable dimension. In yet other embodiments, one ormore protrusions receptacle 108 of theconverter 100. In still other embodiments, one ormore protrusions receptacle 108 can have any number of suitable shapes and/or sizes including, but not limited to, circles, bumps, squares, lines, etc. In various embodiments, one ormore protrusions receptacle 108. In other embodiments, one ormore protrusions receptacle 108 of theconverter 100. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, the
receptacle 108 of theconverter 100 can be any number of suitable sizes as long as thereceptacle 108 can receive acompatible paintball magazine 102. For example, in one embodiment, the interior opening of thereceptacle 108 has a width of approximately 15/16″ and a height of approximately 1 11/16″. In this embodiment, the thickness of theleft wall 114 is approximately 1/16″, the thickness of theright wall 116 is approximately 1/16″, the thickness of thetop wall 113 is approximately ⅛″, and the thickness of thebottom wall 115 is approximately ⅛″. Thus, in this embodiment, the outer dimensions of thereceptacle 108 is approximately 1 1/16″ wide by 1 11/16″ high. In this embodiment, thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 may be configured to receive apaintball magazine 102 having an outer width of approximately between 13/16″ and 15/16″ and an outer height of approximately between 1½″ and 1 11/16″. In various embodiments, the interior and/or exterior dimensions of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 and/or the thickness of one or more walls 113-116 of the receptacle can be larger or smaller than the dimensions described in the above embodiment. For example, in embodiments, one or more walls 113-116 of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 can be 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, or any other suitable thickness. In some embodiments, the thickness of each of the walls 113-116 of thereceptacle 108 can be the same. For example, theleft wall 114,right wall 116,top wall 113, andbottom wall 115 may each be 1 mm thick in accordance with an embodiment. In other embodiments, the thickness of one or more walls 113-116 of thereceptacle 108 can vary. For example, in one embodiment, theleft wall 114 may be 1 mm thick, theright wall 116 may be 2 mm thick, thebottom wall 115 may be 3 mm thick, and thetop wall 113 may be 4 mm think. In embodiments, the depth of areceptacle 108 can be any number of suitable depths. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, a
receptacle 108 can have any number of suitable depth. For example, in one embodiment, thereceptacle 108 of aconverter 100 has a depth of approximately 1 7/16″. In some embodiments, areceptacle 108 can have more than one depth. For example, in one embodiment, thereceptacle 108 has a depth of approximately 1 3/16″ near the bottom interior wall of thereceptacle 108 and a depth of approximately 1 7/16″ near the top interior wall of thereceptacle 108. In this embodiment, the back of thereceptacle 126 of theconverter 100 can be angled such that paintballs from apaintball magazine 102 are directed towards the opening of achamber 110 located towards the top and back of thereceptacle 108. The opening of thechamber 110 can be sized such that a paintball from acompatible paintball magazine 102 can be fed into thechamber 110. In this way, in embodiments, paintballs can be fed from thepaintball magazine 102 into the opening of thechamber 110, and through thechamber 110 into apaintball gun 104. Thus, in embodiments, one or more angled or otherwise slanted portions of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 can be used to force paintballs into the opening of thechamber 110. In other embodiments, the depth(s) of areceptacle 108 of aconverter 100 can be any number of suitable depths, including but not limited to, 0.5″, 1″, 1.5″, 2″, 3″, 4″, 5″, a depth between 0.5″ and 5″, a depth greater than 5″, or any other desired depth as long as the converter can be attached with acompatible paintball magazine 102. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, a shape of the opening of a
receptacle 108 of theconverter 100 can be any suitable shape. For example, in one embodiment, the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 is rectangular. In other embodiments, the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 can be substantially rectangular. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, the bottomleft corner 128 and bottomright corner 130 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 are each approximately 90 degrees. Moreover, as shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, the topleft corner 129 and topright corner 131 of the opening of the receptacle can each be angled. For example, in one embodiment, the angle of the topleft corner 129 and/or topright corner 131 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 is approximately 45 degrees. In some embodiments, each of the corners 128-131 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 is 90 degrees. In other embodiments, one or more corners 128-131 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 may be angled. For example, in one embodiment, each of the topleft corner 129 and topright corner 131 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 has a first angle, and each of the bottomleft corner 128 and bottomright corner 130 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 has a second angle. In other embodiments, each of the corners 128-131 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 can have a same angle. In yet other embodiments, each of the corners 128-131 of the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 can have different angles. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In some embodiments, the entire opening of the
receptacle 108 of theconverter 100 is filled when acompatible paintball magazine 102 is inserted into thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100. For example, in one embodiment, the opening of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 is designed such that it has the same shape of acompatible paintball magazine 102. In this embodiment, when thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is inserted into thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100, there is little or no space between the perimeter of the opening of thereceptacle 108 and the exterior of thecompatible paintball magazine 102. In other embodiments, there can be space between at least part of the perimeter of the opening of thereceptacle 108 and the exterior of thecompatible paintball magazine 102. For example, if each of the corners 128-131 of thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100 is 90 degrees and acompatible paintball magazine 102 has a rounded top, then in this embodiment there may be space between the exterior of thecompatible paintball magazine 102 and thetop corners receptacle 108 when thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is inserted into thereceptacle 108 of theconverter 100. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - Referring back to
FIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, theconverter 100 can comprise one ormore chambers 110 configured to receive one or more paintballs from apaintball magazine 102 and send one or more paintballs into apaintball gun 104. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, theconverter 100 can comprise achamber 110 that has an opening configured to receive a paintball from apaintball magazine 102. Moreover, as shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, the opening of thechamber 110 can be located towards the top of theconverter 100. For example, in one embodiment, the opening of thechamber 110 is located towards the top of the interior of thereceptacle 108 configured to receive apaintball magazine 102. The opening can be any number of suitable shapes or sizes as long as a desired paintball can fit through the opening. For example, in one embodiment, the opening of thechamber 110 is round and sized slightly larger than a compatible paintball that can be used in apaintball magazine 102 compatible with theconverter 100. In other embodiments, the opening of thechamber 110 may be oblong, triangular, irregular, or any other suitable shape and/or size. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, the
chamber 110 of theconverter 100 is at least partially hollow such that a paintball can be received via the opening of thechamber 110, travel through thechamber 110, and exit thechamber 110 into an attachedpaintball gun 104. For example, in one embodiment, thechamber 110 of theconverter 100 comprises afirst opening 132 configured to receive a paintball from apaintball magazine 102 and asecond opening 134 configured to allow the paintball to exit thechamber 110 of theconverter 100 into apaintball gun 104. In embodiments, a paintball can be fed through achamber 110 of theconverter 100 and into apaintball gun 104 in any number of ways. For example, in one embodiment, theconverter 100 comprises a spring that is used to force a paintball received through afirst opening 132 in thechamber 110 out of thechamber 110 through asecond opening 134. As another example, in one embodiment, theconverter 100 feeds one or more paintballs through thechamber 110 using gravity. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, afirst opening 132 of thechamber 110 of theconverter 100 is configured to receive a paintball from apaintball magazine 102 located higher than asecond opening 134 of thechamber 110 in which the paintball exits thechamber 110. In this embodiment, a paintball may be gravity-fed through thechamber 110 and out of thesecond opening 134. As shown inFIGS. 1-12 , thechamber 110 of theconverter 100 can be configured such that one or more walls of thechamber 110 is angled in a downward direction so that paintballs can easily exit thesecond opening 134 of thechamber 110. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein an variations are with the scope of this disclosure. - Referring back to
FIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, aconverter 100 can be attached with apaintball gun 104 in any number of ways. As shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, aconverter 100 comprises alatch 146 for attaching theconverter 100 with acompatible paintball gun 104. Moreover, as shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, aconverter 100 can have one ormore protrusions 136 for attaching theconverter 100 with acompatible paintball gun 104. For example, inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, the converter comprises twoprotrusions 136. In this embodiment, eachprotrusion 136 defines ahole 112 configured to receive a pin. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the pins are inserted into theholes 112 of theprotrusions 136, theconverter 100 can be attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and the pins andprotrusions 136 assist with attaching theconverter 100 to thecompatible paintball gun 104. In various embodiments, aconverter 100 can comprise one ormore latches 146 and/or one ormore protrusions 136 configured to attach theconverter 100 with acompatible paintball gun 104. In other embodiments, aconverter 100 can be glued, taped, tied, or otherwise secured to acompatible paintball gun 104. In some embodiments, theconverter 100 comprises one or more screws and/or bolts that can be used to attach theconverter 100 to acompatible paintball gun 104. In yet other embodiments, aconverter 100 can be attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 based at least in part on the design of thecompatible paintball gun 104. For example, aconverter 100 can have a mating connector,latch 146, opening, and/or other adapter configured to allow theconverter 100 to attach with acompatible paintball gun 104. As another example, aconverter 100 can be designed such that it is shaped to fit with acompatible paintball gun 104. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1-12 , in embodiments, at least part of theexterior 138 of theconverter 100 is curved such that theconverter 100 can attach with acompatible paintball gun 104. In some embodiments, aconverter 100 can be attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 using friction between theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball gun 104. In this embodiment, theconverter 100 can be attached to and/or detached from acompatible paintball gun 104 using an appropriate amount of force without having to press or otherwise activate a release mechanism. In other embodiments, theconverter 100 can be detached from acompatible paintball gun 104 by pressing a release mechanism on thecompatible paintball gun 104. In yet other embodiments, theconverter 100 can be detached from acompatible paintball gun 104 by pressing a release mechanism on theconverter 100. Any number of paintball guns can be acompatible paintball gun 104 in various embodiments. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, a
converter 100 is designed such that when theconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 has a particular orientation with respect to thecompatible paintball gun 104. For example, in one embodiment, when theconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends from theconverter 100 towards a stock and/or a piston of thepaintball gun 104. In this embodiment, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may extend towards a user of thepaintball gun 104 when the user is holding thepaintball gun 104 in a conventional manner. In this embodiment, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may extend away from an end of thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104 where paintballs exit thepaintball gun 104. - In some embodiments, the
compatible paintball magazine 102 can be parallel with abarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104. In one embodiment, there is substantially the same width of separation between thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 along a length of thecompatible paintball magazine 102. Thus, if acompatible paintball magazine 102 is 2″×10″×1″ then in one embodiment, the width of separation between thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may be same along most, if not all, of the 10 inches of thecompatible paintball magazine 102. For example, in one embodiment, the width is 1″. In other embodiments, the width can be 0.5″, 1″, 2″, 3″, or another suitable width. Thus, in an embodiment, theconverter 100 is configured such that it can be attached to acompatible paintball gun 104 and, when acompatible paintball magazine 102 is inserted into areceptacle 108 of theconverter 100, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is parallel and/or at least substantially parallel with thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104. In other embodiments, theconverter 100 is configured such that it can be attached to acompatible paintball gun 104 and, when acompatible paintball magazine 102 is inserted into areceptacle 108 of theconverter 100, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is parallel and/or at least substantially parallel with astock 142 of thepaintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In some embodiments, the
compatible paintball magazine 102 can be substantially parallel with thepaintball gun 104, thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104, and/or thestock 142 of thepaintball gun 104. For example, theconverter 100 can be configured to position thepaintball magazine 102 in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of thepaintball gun 104, thebarrel 140, and/or thestock 142. For instance, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 12 , theconverter 100 can rotate thepaintball magazine 102 and/or hold (e.g., lock) thepaintball magazine 102 at an angle in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of thepaintball gun 104,barrel 140, and/orstock 142. In some embodiments, a plane may be substantially parallel to a plane of thepaintball gun 104,barrel 140, and/orstock 142 if the plane within 10 degrees of the plane of thepaintball gun 104,barrel 140, and/orstock 142. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In yet other embodiments, when a
converter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends from theconverter 100 towards abarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104. In this embodiment, the compatible paintball magazine 101 may extend toward an end of thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104 where paintballs exit thepaintball gun 104. Moreover, in this embodiment, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 can be parallel with abarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104. For example, in one embodiment, there is substantially the same width of separation between thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 along a length of thecompatible paintball magazine 102. Thus, if acompatible paintball magazine 102 is 2″×10″×1″ then in one embodiment, the width of separation between thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may be the same along most, if not all, of the 10 inches of thecompatible paintball magazine 102. For example, in one embodiment, the width is 1″. In other embodiments, the width can be 0.5″, 1″, 2″, 3″, or another suitable width. Thus, in an embodiment, theconverter 100 is configured such that it can be attached to acompatible paintball gun 104 and, when acompatible paintball magazine 102 is inserted into areceptacle 108 of theconverter 100, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is parallel and/or at least substantially parallel with thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104. In other embodiments, theconverter 100 is configured such that it can be attached to acompatible paintball gun 104 and, when acompatible paintball magazine 102 is inserted into areceptacle 108 of theconverter 100, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is parallel and/or at least substantially parallel with astock 142 of thepaintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, the
converter 100 can be configured such that when theconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is at least substantially parallel with at least one of a piston and/or abarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In this embodiment, theconverter 100 can be configured such that thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is angled relative to thebarrel 140 and/or thestock 142 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. For example, theconverter 100 can be configured such that thecompatible paintball magazine 102 has a twenty degree angle relative to thebarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In this example, at least parts of thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may extend above the top of thebarrel 140 and/or below the top of astock 142 of thecompatible paintball gun 104 depending on whether the twenty degree angle is upwards (e.g., positive twenty degrees) relative to thebarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104 or downwards (e.g., negative twenty degrees) relative to thebarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In various embodiments, an angle between abarrel 140 of acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102 may be between 0 degrees and 60 degrees. In some embodiments, an angle between abarrel 140 of acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102 is between 0 and 20 degrees. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, the
converter 100 and/or thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may not extend above the top of thebarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104. In an embodiment, theconverter 100 and/or thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may not extend below a bottom of atrigger 144 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In an embodiment, theconverter 100 and/or thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may not extend below a bottom of thestock 142 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In some embodiments, theconverter 100 and/or thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may be slightly above a top of abarrel 140 of acompatible paintball gun 104. For example, in one embodiment, the top of theconverter 100 and/or the top of thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may be less than 2″ above the top of thebarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In other embodiments, the top of theconverter 100 and/or the top of thecompatible paintball magazine 102 may be less than 6″, 5″, 4″, 3″, 2″, 1″, 0.5″ or less above the top of thebarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, a
converter 100 is configured such that acompatible paintball magazine 102 does not attach to theconverter 100 in a manner that would allow thecompatible paintball magazine 102 to be perpendicular and/or substantially perpendicular to a side of acompatible paintball gun 104. In one embodiment, aconverter 100 is configured such that acompatible paintball magazine 102 is not more than 45 degrees away from the side of abarrel 140 and/or astock 142 of acompatible paintball gun 104. For example, in an embodiment, if apaintball magazine 102 were 90 degrees away from the side of abarrel 140 and/or astock 142 of apaintball gun 104, then thepaintball magazine 102 would be perpendicular to thebarrel 140 and/or thestock 142. In this example, thepaintball magazine 102 could hinder a user's movement when using apaintball gun 104 because themagazine 102 could extend much further than the width of thepaintball gun 104 when thepaintball magazine 102 was not attached. Thus, in embodiments, by configuring theconverter 100 such that acompatible paintball magazine 102 is less than a certain number of degrees away from abarrel 140 and/or astock 142 of acompatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100 can allow the overall structure of thecompatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100, and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 to be compact. In some embodiments, such a design can allow a user to more easily navigate through terrain and/or allow overall structure to be easily moved. For example, in one embodiment, the overall width of thecompatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100, and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is no more than 6″ wider when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are attached to thepaintball gun 104 than when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are detached from thepaintball gun 104. In other embodiments, the overall width of thecompatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100, and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is no more than 3″ wider when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are attached to thepaintball gun 104 than when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are detached from thepaintball gun 104. In yet other embodiments the overall width of thecompatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100, and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is between 0.5″ and 7″ wider when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are attached to thepaintball gun 104 than when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are detached from thepaintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, the overall height of the
compatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100, and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is no more than 4″ taller when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are attached to thepaintball gun 104 than when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are detached from thepaintball gun 104. In other embodiments, the overall height of thecompatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100, and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is no more than 2″ taller when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are attached to thepaintball gun 104 than when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are detached from thepaintball gun 104. In yet other embodiments, the overall height of thecompatible paintball gun 104, theconverter 100, and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is between 0″ and 4″ taller when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are attached to thepaintball gun 104 than when theconverter 100 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 are detached from thepaintball gun 104. In yet other embodiments, the height between atrigger 144 and abarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104 is the same as or less than the height between thetrigger 144 and acompatible paintball magazine 102 when thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is attached to the magazine-fed paintball gun. In some embodiments, the height between atrigger 144 of apaintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102 when thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is attached to theconverter 100 is not more than 0.5″, 1″, 2″, 3″, etc. more than the height between thetrigger 144 and abarrel 140 of thepaintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In one embodiment, the
converter 100 is configured such that when theconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102, a geometric plane corresponding to thecompatible paintball magazine 102 does not intersect with a geometric plane corresponding to abarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In other embodiments, theconverter 100 is configured such that when theconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102, a geometric plane corresponding to thecompatible paintball magazine 102 intersects with a geometric plane corresponding to abarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In embodiments, the
converter 100 can be attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 at any number of suitable locations. For example, acompatible paintball gun 104 may have an opening towards a top of thepaintball gun 104 and, in this embodiment, theconverter 100 may be attached to thecompatible paintball gun 104 at the opening. In various embodiments, when theconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104, the acompatible paintball magazine 102 can be attached in any number of locations. For example, in one embodiment, when aconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102 is attached with theconverter 100, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends along a right-hand side of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In another embodiment, when aconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102 is attached with theconverter 100, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends along a left-hand side of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In yet another embodiment, when aconverter 100 is attached with acompatible paintball gun 104 and acompatible paintball magazine 102 is attached with theconverter 100, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends along a top of thepaintball gun 104. In various embodiments, acompatible paintball magazine 102 can extend towards and/or away from various components of acompatible paintball gun 104 when aconverter 100 is attached with thecompatible paintball gun 104 and thecompatible paintball magazine 102 is attached with theconverter 100. For example, in one embodiment, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends from theconverter 100 towards abarrel 140 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. In another embodiment, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends from theconverter 100 towards a piston in thecompatible paintball gun 104. In yet another embodiment, thecompatible paintball magazine 102 extends from theconverter 100 towards astock 142 of thecompatible paintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - In various embodiments, fewer or additional components can be included in a
paintball gun 104, apaintball magazine 102, and/or aconverter 100. For example, in one embodiment, apaintball gun 104 comprises astock 142. In another embodiment, apaintball gun 104 may not comprise astock 142. As another example, in one embodiment, aconverter 100 may comprise a spring configured to assist paintballs through achamber 110 and into apaintball gun 104. In other embodiments, aconverter 100 may not comprise a spring configured to assist paintballs through achamber 110 and into apaintball gun 104. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. - As discussed above, devices, systems, and methods of converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun are disclosed herein. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for a magazine-fed paintball gun. In one embodiment, the magazine-fed paintball gun has one or more attributes discussed above with respect to a compatible paintball gun, a converter, and a compatible paintball magazine. For example, in one embodiment, a magazine-fed paintball gun comprises a barrel and a piston. In this embodiment, the magazine-fed paintball gun comprises an opening located between the barrel and the piston of the paintball gun. The opening can be configured to receive at least one paintball. In this embodiment, a device can be attached to and detached from the paintball gun. In one embodiment, this device is the same or similar to embodiments of the converter discussed above. For example, in one embodiment, the device can be attached to a compatible paintball gun and can be attached to a compatible paintball magazine. As another example, in one embodiment, the device can comprise a receptacle configured to receive a paintball magazine. In other embodiments, the device can be integrated into the paintball gun such that it cannot be attached to or detached from the paintball gun. In this embodiment, the device may be attached to and/or detached from a paintball magazine. For example, the device may have receptacle configured to receive a paintball magazine. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- In embodiments, a magazine-fed paintball gun has one or more attributes discussed above with respect to a compatible paintball gun, a converter, and a compatible paintball magazine. For example, in one embodiment, the magazine-fed paintball gun is configured such that a compatible paintball magazine, when inserted, is at least substantially parallel to a barrel of the magazine-fed paintball gun. In one embodiment, the overall width of the magazine-fed paintball gun does not increase when the compatible paintball magazine is inserted into the paintball gun than when the compatible paintball magazine is not inserted in the paintball gun. In embodiments, the overall width of the magazine-fed paintball gun may be less than 1″, 2″, 3″, etc. wider when the compatible paintball magazine is inserted in the paintball gun than when the compatible paintball magazine is not inserted in the paintball gun.
- In one embodiment, the overall height of the magazine-fed paintball gun does not increase when the compatible paintball magazine is inserted into the paintball gun than when the compatible paintball magazine is not inserted in the paintball gun. In embodiments, the overall height of the magazine-fed paintball gun may be less than 1″, 2″, 3″, etc. taller when the compatible paintball magazine is inserted in the paintball gun than when the compatible paintball magazine is not inserted in the paintball gun. In yet other embodiments, the height between a trigger and a barrel of the magazine-fed paintball gun is the same as or less than the height between the trigger and a compatible paintball magazine when the compatible paintball magazine is attached to the magazine-fed paintball gun. In some embodiments, the height between the trigger and a compatible paintball magazine when the compatible paintball magazine is attached to the magazine-fed paintball gun is not more than 0.5″, 1″, 2″, 3″, etc. more than the height between the trigger and a barrel of the magazine-fed paintball gun. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
- The foregoing description of some embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
- Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, operation, or other characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one implementation of the invention. The invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments described as such. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Any particular feature, structure, operation, or other characteristic described in this specification in relation to “one embodiment” may be combined with other features, structures, operations, or other characteristics described in respect of any other embodiment.
Claims (22)
1. A method of converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun, comprising:
detaching a hopper and a feed elbow from an opening of a paintball gun;
attaching a converter to the opening of the paintball gun; and
inserting at least part of a paintball magazine into a receptacle of the converter.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converter is configured to receive paintballs from the paintball magazine and deliver the paintballs to the paintball gun via the opening when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the paintball magazine is at least substantially parallel with a barrel of the paintball gun when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the paintball gun is less than three inches wider when the converter is attached to the paintball gun than when the hopper is attached to the paintball gun via the feed elbow.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the paintball gun is shorter when the converter is attached with the paintball gun than when the hopper is attached to the paintball gun.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first distance measured from a bottom of a trigger of the paintball gun to a top of the paintball magazine is less than two inches different than a second distance measured between the bottom of the trigger of the paintball gun to a top of a barrel of the paintball gun when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first vertical plane corresponding to a barrel of the paintball gun does not intersect with a second vertical plane corresponding to the paintball magazine when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter and the converter is attached to the paintball gun.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converter is angled within twenty-five degrees relative to a barrel of the paintball gun when the converter is attached to the opening of the paintball gun.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an interior wall of the receptacle of the converter comprises a protrusion configured to hold the paintball magazine in place when the paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle of the converter.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converter comprises a latch and at least two pins, and wherein attaching the converter to the opening of the paintball gun comprises:
connecting the latch and the at least two pins with the paintball gun such that the opening of the paintball gun aligns with a second opening in the converter.
11. A converter for converting a hopper-fed paintball gun into a magazine-fed paintball gun, comprising:
a component configured to attach to a compatible paintball gun at a location corresponding to where a hopper is normally attached to the compatible paintball gun; and
a receptacle configured to receive at least part of a compatible paintball magazine; and
a chamber configured to receive a plurality of paintballs in succession from the compatible paintball magazine and deliver the plurality of paintballs in succession to the compatible paintball gun when the compatible paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle and the component is attached to the compatible paintball gun at the location.
12. The converter of claim 11 , wherein the location corresponds to where a feed elbow normally attaches the hopper to the compatible paintball gun.
13. The converter of claim 11 , wherein the component comprises at least one of a bolt or a screw configured to attach the converter to the compatible paintball gun at the location.
14. The converter of claim 11 , wherein the component comprises a latch configured to attach the converter to the compatible paintball gun at the location.
15. The converter of claim 14 , wherein the component further comprises at least one pin configured to attach the converter to the compatible paintball gun at the location.
16. The converter of claim 14 , wherein the component, the receptacle, and the chamber are configured such that the compatible paintball magazine is at least substantially parallel with a barrel of the compatible paintball gun when the compatible paintball magazine is at least partially inserted into the receptacle and the component is attached to the compatible paintball gun.
17. The converter of claim 11 , wherein the receptacle comprises an internal width of less than two inches and an internal height of less than three inches.
18. The converter of claim 11 , wherein the receptacle comprises a plurality of rounded corners.
19. The converter of claim 11 , wherein at least one interior wall of the receptacle comprises a protrusion approximately 0.1 mm thick.
20. The converter of claim 11 , further comprising an overall width of approximately two inches, an overall height of approximately two inches, and an overall depth of approximately three inches.
21. The converter of claim 11 , wherein the chamber is configured to gravity feed at least one of the plurality of paintballs from the compatible paintball magazine to the compatible paintball gun.
22. The converter of claim 11 , wherein the chamber is configured to spring feed at least one of the plurality of paintballs from the compatible paintball magazine to the compatible paintball gun using a spring in the compatible paintball magazine.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US14/594,495 US20150211827A1 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2015-01-12 | Magazine Adapter for a Paintball Gun |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201461932229P | 2014-01-27 | 2014-01-27 | |
US201461987704P | 2014-05-02 | 2014-05-02 | |
US14/594,495 US20150211827A1 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2015-01-12 | Magazine Adapter for a Paintball Gun |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20150211827A1 true US20150211827A1 (en) | 2015-07-30 |
Family
ID=53678717
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/594,495 Abandoned US20150211827A1 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2015-01-12 | Magazine Adapter for a Paintball Gun |
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US (1) | US20150211827A1 (en) |
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US20190234704A1 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-01 | Joshua Culiat | Pellet gun conversion adapter |
US20220128329A1 (en) * | 2020-08-26 | 2022-04-28 | Kyle Buckmaster | Apparatus and Methods for Paintball Feeding Mechanism |
US11913750B1 (en) * | 2023-05-31 | 2024-02-27 | Arren Cudal | Airsoft adapter assembly |
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US20190234704A1 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-01 | Joshua Culiat | Pellet gun conversion adapter |
US10619968B2 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2020-04-14 | Joshua Culiat | Pellet gun conversion adapter |
US20220128329A1 (en) * | 2020-08-26 | 2022-04-28 | Kyle Buckmaster | Apparatus and Methods for Paintball Feeding Mechanism |
US11732997B2 (en) * | 2020-08-26 | 2023-08-22 | Kyle Buckmaster | Apparatus and methods for paintball feeding mechanism |
US11913750B1 (en) * | 2023-05-31 | 2024-02-27 | Arren Cudal | Airsoft adapter assembly |
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